Defense has been this team’s calling all season long. After shipping Rudy Gay to the Raptors, the Grizzlies have tightened up their defensive intensity with Tayshaun Prince and Ed Davis’s presence. Mike Conley has exceeded expectations and has been the leader of this Memphis team, orchestrating the offense with veteran Prince, defensive specialist Tony Allen and the dynamic duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph protecting the paint. This team ranked first during the regular season with only 89.3 points per game allowed. Memphis’ front court will be a major threat to the smaller San Antonio team, especially with the playoffs when teams play every other day. Age has shown on the Spurs big three of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan at several key moments but the experience proved too much for the Lakers and Warriors to handle. That experience would be negated in this matchup against the Grizzlies as everyone on this Memphis squad has had their share of experience in the playoffs.

San Antonio Spurs’ Locker Room

Age HAS been a factor all along this season but coach Gregg Popovich has done an excellent job as he always has of managing the playing time of each of his superstars. Even though Tim Duncan has played exceptionally well this season, averaging his highest free-throw percentage in his career, we can see in couple games with the Lakers and the Warriors that Duncan has definitely showed signs of age as well. Same with Ginobili and Parker at times, especially during the over time games against the Warriors. The Spurs ranked a mediocre 11th in points allowed during the regular season but have been the best at sharing the ball with their 25.1 assists per game, which ranks number one. Defense is still the key component in Popovich’s philosophy. You defend well and you share the ball well. That has clearly proven with his multiple championships and finals appearances. Aside from the big three. The Spurs have multiple 3-point threats in Danny Green, Gary Neal, Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner and they have not played their “Insurance Policy” in Tracy McGrady, who we all know can score 15 points in 45 seconds. The Spurs know what it takes to win.

Final Predictions

I don’t see either team winning on the road here, or at least not until game 7, where I think the fatigue just kicks in and age really starts to show a factor in the Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies win GAME 7 in San Antonio and move on to the NBA FINALS. Who doesn’t like rooting for the underdog?